It takes place with nearly every sports team when key players go down with injuries and the “next-man-up” mentality must take over. Parion Roberson 6’3” junior for Gary West Side Leadership Academy has taken that mentality and ran with it.

West Side has had several substantial injuries and Parion has stepped up averaging 13ppg and 5rpg. One of those key injuries was forward Jalen Washington a 5-star recruit who suffered a season-ending knee injury. With Washington going-down early in the season, the Cougars needed some players to step-up and Parion Roberson filled that need.

During the grassroots period, Parion plays with the Indiana Dawgz one an established program in NW Indiana that has been around for nearly 30 years. Program Director Geoff Dan, “He's one of the hardest working kids I've ever had. Great leader and teammate, but even a better person off the court. Truly a humble young man.” These are traits college coaches surely love to see along with his ability to score, create and make others around him better. Prep Hoops Indiana has him listed as the 17th best small-forward in Indiana.

West Side has been able to sustain success with the play from Parion and others as they sit at 9-4 on the season and have won three -consecutive games. Head Coach Chris Buggs hope to continue that trajectory with some “monsters” coming up on the schedule like: Munster (14-1), Gary 21st Century (13-2) Indianapolis Cathedral (12-3) and Chesterton (15-1). The Cougars will need next-man-up Parion Roberson to knock-out some of these late-season heavyweights and finish the season strong.

Note: Jeff Moore is a Contributing Editor for NY2LASPORTS.COM and the Director of MOORE-EXPOSURE.COM. Follow Jeff on Twitter @mooreexposure.